Anamika stared at her father who just announced his second marriage with her late mother's best friend.
Suddenly, she started to chuckle but there was no hint of humour in it. Instead it felt more like a mocking & amusement type of chuckle to others who were present there.
Prithviraj, her father stared at his daughter with a frown. He didn't expect her to react like these. He expected his daughter to make a scene, to scream at him, to do a drama but all he was seeing his daughter smiling chillingly.
Anamika leaned back on the couch as she fold her legs one above the other with her arms spread around the couch sides as she continued to stared at her father whose frown just deepen more with her reaction.
"Congrats Padre, finally you got the guts to announce this to me. But I am a bit disappointed in you as it took you 15 long years to confess it to me."
Prithviraj's face hardened.
"You already knew it...Anamika ?"
"Yes, I do Padre." Anamika said with a cold smile plastered on her lips.
"H-How ?"
"Let's just say, I caught you & her kissing each other...on my mother's funeral day...15 years ago."
Flashback
12 years old Anamika was sitting in front of her mother's photo frame with a flower garland on it.
Her little green eyes were swollen with the continuous cries she did in the last 4 hours.
Now, her little hiccups were the only sound that can be heard in the silent living room of 'Chauhan Mansion'
She stood up and walked towards her father's bedroom. She needed her father right now. She wanted her father to embraced her in his hug & comfort her.
The little Anamika was heartbroken. She just lost her mother who she loves so dearly with her little heart.
Now, she needed nothing more than to hide herself in her father's embrace. To find at least some solace in her father's arms.
As Anamika reached near her father's bedroom. She heard some weird sound coming out of the bedroom.
She frowned, the sounds only increased as she closed the distance.
The door wasn't locked. Light was peeking from inside indicating her father was there.
Her ears caught someone else's voice as well. Her father wasn't alone in the room someone was there with him and she recognised the other person.
It was Rashmi Jaiswal's voice, her mother's bestfriend.
'What is aunty doing here ?' 12 years old Anamika thought with a frown on her face.
Her hands moved towards the door and she slightly pushed it to see what is happening inside ?
But her eyes widened and tears started to flow rapidly from her already swollen green eyes.
Her father was kissing her late mother's bestfriend in their bedroom which once belonged to her dead mother.
She covered her mouth with her tiny palms to cease the sobbing sounds that were about to come out from her lips after seeing the heartbroken scene that was currently going on in front of her.
She might be just 12 year old girl but she well knows that whatever was happening right now on her mother's funeral was wrong.
The funeral day which didn't even come to an end.
Her 12 year old self was expecting her father to be just heartbroken like her after loosing his wife but what she never expected to found her father in these situation.
How can he ? Her little self was not able to believe that her father cheated on her mother the day she died.
But her tiny heart break into million pieces after hearing her father saying.
"Good that women died today. Now, I can kiss you whenever I want. I don't have to wait for her to leave the house so I can kiss you."
'T-That means, Papa was c-cheating on Mumma behind her b-back every s-single day.' 12 years old Anamika thought as more painful tears left her green eyes after knowing the terrible truth.
Her father was cheating on her mother even before she died.
"True but we still can play the hide & seek game so the little Anamika doesn't know about us." Rashmi said as she removed her father's shirt who was now kissing her mother's bestfriend's neck.
A sob finally left from little Anamika's lips making Prithviraj alert. He stopped his actions and said.
"Kon hai waha par ?"
(Who is there ?)
12 years old Anamika took a step back from the bedroom's door as she tightly covered her mouth with her palms.
"Aree kohi bhee nhi hoga. Raj tum yaha pe aao na." Rashmi said.
(No one is there. Raj and you come here)
"But--" Rashmi cut off Prithviraj as she said.
"No buts. Come here baby. I need you."
After all these words, 12 years old Anamika only heard the moaning sounds which belonged to her father & her dead mother best friend's coming out from the other side of her mother's bedroom door.
Her little feet turned around and she started to ran away from there as her ears were not able to hear those horrible sounds.
Papa cheated on Mumma.
Papa cheated on Mumma.
Papa cheated on Mumma.
Her little mind replayed the 4 words like a chant in her head.
She closed her bedroom door with a bang before she leaned her back on it and her legs finally gave up and she slid on it, sitting down on the cold floor alone.
She wrapped her arms around her knees as she buried her tear striked face in it and mumbled to herself while sobbing.
"P-Please s-stop i-it."
The site where her own father was making out with another woman who turns out to be her mother's best friend in the bedroom replayed in her mind like a video making her fist her hair brutally.
"I SAID STOP IT PLEASE." Anamika's 12 year old self screamed in her silent bedroom.
Flashback Ends
Anamika observed the paled faces of her father and her mother's so-called best friend with a ghost smirk lingering on her lips.
She fucking loved seeing their drain out faces.
Rahul looked at his girlfriend with shock face. Meanwhile, Tara looked embarrassed as her boyfriend stared at her with that face.
Tara didn't expect that Anamika would exposed something like these and make her feel so flushed infront of her own boyfriend. She glared at Anamika with anger who didn't even spare a glance in her direction.
Anamika chuckled humorlessly before saying.
"Why I kept quiet all these years ? Why didn't I scream at you ? Why didn't I make a scene in front of everyone ? All these questions are wondering in your mind right now am I right Padre ?"
"Y-Yes why ?" Prithviraj asked in a hard voice.
Anamika smirk frozen and Prithviraj felt a shiver ran down his spine seeing his daughter behaving like these.
"The answer is simple. I was waiting."
"Waiting for you to confess it with your own fucking mouth."
"Mind your tongue Anamika. Don't forget I am your father." Prithviraj said with clenched jaws as he glared at his daughter.
"Yeah ? I can't even curse but you can cheat on your wife with her best friend." Anamika spatted back.
"And please don't remind me how much a father you have been to me. We both knew the fucking truth..Padre." Anamika's voice dropped down to ice cold.
"Badtameez ladki apne pita se kaise baath karni hai yeh tujhe apni maa ne nhi sikhaya hai kya ?!" Sushila devi spite out.
(Rude girl, didn't your mother teach you how to talk to your father ?!)
Anamika's eyes darkened as she moved her eyes to her grandmother who shivered seeing the dark glare of Anamika.
"Mujhe maire maa ne bhot kuch sikhya hai. Nekin shayad aapne apne bete ko ache sanskar nhi diye hai, isliye toh aapke bete ne maire maa aur unki biwi ko dhoka diya hai."
(My mother has taught me a lot. But maybe you have not given good values to your son, that is why your son has cheated on my mother and his wife)
"Anamika..zuban sambhal ke baath karo samji tum." Prithviraj seethed.
(Anamika..talk carefully, understood)
"Zuban toh aapko sambhal ni chahiye thee jabh aap maire maa ki dost ko chum rahe thae..unke pith-piche aur unki antim sanskaar ke din bhee."
(You must have controlled your tongue when you were kissing my mother's best friend behind her back and even on the day of her funeral)
"ANAMIKA !!"
Prithviraj shouted as he stood up along with others. His eyes turned red as he glared at his daughter who calmly looked up at him.
"Kya hua ? Bura laga aapko Pita Ji. Sochiye fir mujhe kaisa lagna chahiye..jabh maine aapko maa ke antim sanskaar ke din kisi aur aurat ko chum thae huae pakda tha." Anamika's voice hardened at the end.
(What happened ? You felt bad Pita ji then think how I would have felt when I caught you kissing another woman on the day of mother's funeral day)
"Tum apni hadh paar kar rahe ho Anamika Chauhan !!" Prithviraj voiced out with clenched jaws.
(You are crossing your lines Anamika Chauhan !!)
Anamika stood up as she said looking straight in her father's eyes.
"Hadh toh aapne 15 saal pehle he paar ki hai Mr.Prithviraj Chauhan toh please mujhe apni hadh kya hai..yeh batane ki zarurat bilkul bhee nhi hai."
(You have already crossed the lines 15 years ago Mr.Prithviraj Chauhan, so please there is no need for you to tell me about what my lines are)
"Listen Anamika---" Rashmi said but got cut off by Anamika sharply.
"Oh please Rashmi Jaiswal give me a damn break. You are the last person on these planet earth that I want to listen so shut your mouth."
"Hey ! How dare you talk to my mother like that ?!" Tara scowled.
"Just the way, your mother dare to kiss her best friend's husband." Anamika shorted back making Tara clenched her fists.
"Anamika you can't speak to her like that. Say sorry to Rashmi right now !" Prithviraj ordered.
Anamika clapped her hands in amusement hearing her father. She stopped then pointed her index finger up & down to Rashmi's presence.
"You want me to say sorry to the woman who deceived her own best friend who was nothing but kind to her when her own husband kicked her out on the streets with her 10 years old daughter."
"But what this women did ? She fucking had an affair with her own bestfriend's husband behind her back while fucking staying under the same roof which offered her shelter."
"So Mr.Prithviraj Chauhan forgot that I will say sorry to a woman like her--"
Anamika pointed her finger at Rashmi as she continued.
"She doesn't even deserve to get a tiny amount of respect from me." Anamika deadpanned in a cold tone.
The atmosphere in the living room was tense as both father & daughter stared at each other.
"Prithviraj tuh iss ladki se baath karke apna time waste kar raha hai." Sushila devi said as she stood beside her son.
(Prithviraj you are wasting your time talking to this girl)
"Yeh ladki kisi ki bhee izzat nhi kar sakte hai kyu ki uski maa ne isse kabhi sikhaya he nhi hai apne se bade ki izzat kaise kari jaati hai." Sushila devi spite as she glared at Anamika.
(This girl cannot respect anyone because her mother has never taught her how to respect her elders)
"Maire maa ne mujhe unn bado ki izzat karna sikhya hai jinki such mai izzat hoti hai. Jo izzat ke layak hote hai."
(My mother has taught me to respect elders who are respectable. Those who deserve to be respected)
Sushila Devi flinched back hearing the cold dark tone which once used to stutter in front of her even while saying a single sentence.
"Aur jabh baath Rashmi Jaiswal jaise aurato ki aati hai toh mujse zayada toh aap jaanti hai ki yeh kitna izzat deserve karti hai..samaaj mai." Anamika said with a smirk.
(And when it comes to women like Rashmi Jaiswal, you know more than me how much respect she deserves in the society)
"YOU BITCH !! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK ABOUT MY MOTHER LIKE THAT ?!"
Tara screamed as she charged towards Anamika.
"Tumhe mai nhi chodungi aaj !"
(Today I will not leave you !)
Saying this Tara raised her hand to slap Anamika but her hand was stopped in the middle but none other than Anamika.
Anamika twisted Tara's hand behind her back making her screamed in pain.
"ANAMIKA !"
"TARA !"
"HEY ! LEAVE MY GIRL !"
Prithviraj, Rashmi & Rahul shouted.
"Bitch fucking leave me !" Tara said as she tried to free herself from Anamika's hold.
Anamika tightened her hold then whispered in Tara's ear.
"Iss baar sirf haath mohda hai nekin agli baar tumne mujh par haath uthane ki koshish ki bhee toh mai tumara haath todh kar bahar kutto ko khila dungi."
(This time I just twisted your hand but next time if you try to raise your hand on me, I'll break your hand and feed it to the dogs outside)
A shiver ran down Tara's spine hearing her dark warning tone.
Anamika pushed Tara away from her and Rashmi caught her daughter before she can landed on the ground.
Tara held her wrist which was now having Anamika's fingerprints.
The marks will surely be in blue & black colour by tomorrow.
"Anamika you can't treat my daughter like these. She is soon going to be your sister. Behave with her please." Rashmi said with teary eyes making Anamika scoffed at her in return.
Anamika was used to seeing these fake teary eyes, fake acting but 15 years back, her little self used to believe them along with her sympathetic mother.
But how wrong her mother & she was in the past. Only if both of them knew that it was just an act for staying in the 'Chauhan Mansion'
"Anamika don't think just because you know about us already being together we won't get married. We will marry each other and you can't stop us." Prithviraj said firmly but he was taken a back from the reply he got.
"And who said I will stop you from marrying her..dear Padre ?" Anamika raised a eyebrow as she asked.
"What do you mean ?" Prithviraj asked confused along with others.
"I mean why would I stop you from marrying with the women who you are in love with from past 15 years."
Anamika voiced out tilting her head a bit to the side.
"So you won't stop me from marrying Rashmi ?" Prithviraj carefully asked. He wasn't able to digest the calm composure which his daughter was showing to him currently.
He thought after knowing that he cheated on her mother, his daughter will do everything in her power to not let him marry in anyway but the exact opposite his daughter is saying to him.
"I won't Padre." Anamika stated with a calm demeanor as she folded her hands behind her back.
Prithviraj stared at his daughter with suspicious eyes but when he couldn't find any type of hint of lie on her straight face he slowly nodded believing his daughter.
But Oh man ! How wrong he was.
"Good. I am happy to see that you aren't against my second marriage and instead you are cooperative with it." Prithviraj said.
"Oh I am..father, in fact very much that you can't even understand."
Anamika said and a sudden mysterious smile displayed on her lips which did go unnoticed by others except Sushila Devi.
"Prithvi tum iss ladki ki baath mai itni aasani se mat aao beta. Yeh ladki bhot chalak hai." Sushila devi spite sternly.
(Prithvi, don't fall for this girl's talk so easily son. This girl is very cunning)
"Aree..jabh mai keh he rahe hu ki mujhe kohi takleef nhi hai agar yeh dono shaadi kar lete hai toh aap mujhe chalak bula rahe hai..yeh badi galat baath hai." Anamika hissed with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
(Oh..when I am saying that I have no problem if these two get married, you are calling me a cunning person...this is very wrong)
"Ae..ladki tum zayada bholi mat bano maire samne. Mai tumare rak-rak se wakeef hu. Tum jhoot bol rahe ho." Sushila devi stated as she shot daggers to Anamika who just shook her head in return.
(Hey girl, don't act too innocent in front of me. I know you well. You are lying)
"Mai aapko kohi bhee safahe nhi dungi. Aapko mujh par nhi bharosa karna hai toh mat kijiye. Simple as that." Anamika voiced out with a shrug of her shoulders making Sushila Devi greeted her teeth.
(I will not give you any reasons. If you don't want to trust me then don't. Simple as that)
"Tum--" Prithviraj cut off his mother.
(You----)
"Maa bhas kijiye abhe."
(Mother that's enough now)
"Prithviraj tum samje kyu nhi rahai ho ki---"
(Prithviraj why aren't you understanding that---)
"Maa samjh toh aap nhi rahe ho. Jabh Anamika keh rahe hai ki usse kohi problem nhi hai toh aap kyu uss par shak kar rahe ho." Prithviraj voiced out, being annoyed with his mother.
(Mom you are the one who is not understanding here. When Anamika is saying that she has no problem with it then why are you doubting her)
Sushila devi clenched her old jaws as she nodded and looked away.
Seeing this Anamika smirked secretly but quickly put on her blank face back.
"Father..I think I should leave now. It's getting late after all." Anamika said as she glanced at her wrist watch.
"You don't stay in 'Chauhan Mansion' ?" Rahul asked, frowning.
"No. I stay in my own apartment." Anamika shortly replied as she ignored the glares which she received from her so-called soon-to-be step sister.
"Oh that's sad to hear." Rahul replied with a hint of disappointment in his voice which definitely didn't go unnoticed by Anamika & Tara.
"Why baby ? You got some problem if she stay somewhere else." Tara asked as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's forearm with a tight smile on her lips.
"N-No I was just a bit s-shock to hear that she doesn't stay in her own house. She must have problems staying all by herself." Rahul said with awkward smile as he freed himself with his girlfriend's brutal grip.
"She doesn't stay in her house from last 15 years baby. Besides she is used to staying alone half her life now so I don't think she has any problem now staying all by herself, am I right Anamik--opps I mean soon-to-be stepsister."
Tara said with an innocent smile but Anamika knew better that smile was anything but innocent.
Anamika knew Tara was clearly mocking her. Mocking her for not staying in her own home from last 15 years. But was it Anamika's fault that she was forcefully sent away from her own house ?
'Chauhan Mansion' which once used to be her 'home' but now it is just a polish mansion with luxurious filled items in it for her.
"You are absolutely right. I am used to being alone--" Anamika started.
"Because I am incapable of bearing people who are short of nothing but a whole package of nonsense. I can't deal with too much nonsense in my life now, can I ? " Anamika ended with a tiny smirk as she observed the jaw dropped face of her soon-to-be so-called stepsister aka Tara Jaiswal.
Tara shorted a glare to her boyfriend who released a chuckle but cover it with a cough immediately.
"Thank you for inviting me for dinner and do let me know about the future plans or functions for your marriage. I promise to attend each one of them without fail..Padre." Anamika said looking at her father who nodded in return.
"Good night everyone. Have a good sleep cause who knows when you can't have one in future." Anamika voiced out with a small smile.
"What exactly are you trying to say huh ?" Tara asked.
"I mean there will be so much preparation to do for the marriage so y'all won't have that much time to sleep. That's why I said sleep how much you can for now because maybe you won't get in the future..due to the marriage of course."
Others slowly nodded except Sushila Devi who just stared at Anamika with suspicious old eyes.
Anamika turned around and started to walk away when she heard.
"My driver will drop you to your apartment. Don't go alone." Prithviraj said.
Anamika halted, hearing her father.
I didn't wanted to hear this from you father but I knew this is what I will always heard from you.
Anamika thought as she fisted her hands and without turning back, she said.
"Thanks for offering but no need..Padre. 15 years ago, I went to the airport alone to leave for Italy so I think I can leave for my apartment alone as well."
Anamika started to walk again when she heard her soon-to-be stepsister boyfriend's voice aka Rahul Patel.
"Hey ! If you don't mind I can drop you to your apartment as well."
"No." Anamika rejected without ceasing on her steps and completely walked out from the living room.
She reached near the door when someone grabbed her wrist and turned her around and she came face-to-face...Savita Kaki.
"Anamika beti..tum theek ho ?" Kaki asked still holding my wrist as she looked at me worriedly.
(Anamika daughter..are you okay ?)
I am not Kaki. I am definitely not fine but I will not let the people because of whom I am not fine to be fine as well.
"Mai theek hu Kaki. Aap maire itni fikar mat kijiye." I said as I hold her hand in mine.
(I am okay Kaki. You shouldn't worry about me so much)
"Kaisa na karu ? Andhar Jo kuch hua maine woh--" Kaki stopped in the middle.
(How can I not ? Inside whatever happened---)
"Woh aapne sun liya ? Toh kya hua ? Aap iss ghar ki hai abhe aapse kya he chupana..Savita Kaki." I said as a dry chuckle left my lips and Kaki took her hands back from me.
(You heard that ? So what ? You belong to this house, what is there to hide from you..Savita aunty)
"T-Tum aise k-kyu bol rahe ho ? jaise ki tumhe kohi f-farak he n-nhi padhta hai jo kuch bhee horaha hai ya hone waala hai." Kaki said looking at me with her moist eyes.
(Why are you talking like this ? as if it doesn't matter to you that whatever is happening or is about to happen)
"Maire farak padhne se kya hone waala hai Kaki ? Kuch bhee toh nhi badal ne waala hai." I stated the truth which I am going to change soon.
(What is going to happen if it matters to me Kaki ? Nothing will change)
Savita kaki looked at me with her old eyes which were showing pain. To be honest, Savita Kaki along with my two bitches are the ones who cared about me genuinely after my mumma.
"Kaki--" She cut me off as she hold my hand again.
"Mujhe bhee apne saath le chalo Anamika beti. Mai abhe yaha pe nhi rehna chahti hu."
(Please take me with you Anamika daughter. I don't want to stay here anymore)
"Nhi Kaki..mai aapko apne saath nhi le ja sakti hu." I said with a straight face.
(No Kaki..I can't take you with me)
Kaki's face fell as she heard me.
"K-Kyu beti ? Tum mujse bhee naraz ho ? Mai such bol rahe hu mujhe nhi pata tha ki Chauhan Sahab ka chakar uss aurat ke saath chal raha hai. Mujhe bhas do din pehle pata chala hai ki woh dono ne shaadi karne ka faisla liya hai."
(W-Why daughter ? Are you also angry with me ? I am telling the truth, I did not know that Chauhan Sahab was having an affair with that woman. I came to know two days ago that both of them have decided to get married)
"Shh..Kaki mai aapse naraz nhi hu. Shaant ho jaye please." I said as I rubbed her forearm.
(Shh..aunty I am not angry with you. Please calm down)
"Toh fir tum kyu mana kar rahe ho mujhe aapne saath le jaane se ?" Savita kaki said looking at me with her confused teary eyes.
(Then why are you refusing to take me with you ?)
"Kyu ki aapka rehna yaha pe zaruri hai." I said calmly.
(Because it is important for you to stay here)
"Matlab ? Mai kuch samji nhi..Anamika beti." Kaki asked, frowning.
(Means ? I don't get it.. Anamika daughter)
"Aap bhas itna samjhiye Kaki..ki abhe sahi waqt nhi hai aapka yeh 'Chauhan Mansion' chodh ne ka." I said firmly.
(You should only understand this aunty that this is not the right time for you to leave this 'Chauhan Mansion')
"Aap chinta na kare mai aapko sahi waqt aajane ke baad..khud aapko yaha se le jaogi. Tabh tak aap please yaha pe rahiye."
(Don't worry, I will take you from here myself when the right time comes till then please stay here)
Kaki looked at me for a minute before she nodded her head slowly and I offered her a small smile which she returned with her tired one.
I knew how the people in this house were treating her and I promised to myself that I will soon get her out from here but I need her to stay in 'Chauhan Mansion' for now.
"Give me your phone number Kaki." I demanded and she told me her number and I save it in my phone.
"Apna dyaan rakhiye mai abh chalti hu." I said.
(Take care of yourself. I will leave now)
"Tum bhee apna dyaan rakhna beti." Kaki said and hugged me and I hugged her back.
(You also take care of yourself daughter)
I broke the hug and walked out from the house. I came to the other side of the gate where my cab was already waiting for me.
I opened the door of the cab but stop mid way as I turned my neck and stared at the 'Chauhan Mansion'
A small smirk appeared on my face when I saw Sushila Devi standing at the window and staring at me from inside.
I offered her a wave and she glared at me making me chuckle.
Oh I love to piss my so-called grandmother to the core.
I sat inside the car and the cab started to move away from the 'Chauhan Mansion'
My eyes darkened as I stared at the 'Chauhan Mansion' reflection from the car small mirror.
"Shaadi karni hai na aapko Pita ji ? Kohi baath nhi..kariye bilkul kariye dusari shaadi--"
"Nekin mai bhee dekhti hu ki aap kaise karenge yeh dusari shaadi maire hote huae." I whispered to myself as I closed my eyes and leaned back on the head seat.
(You want to get married father ?No problem..definitely do the second marriage---)
(But I will also see how you will do this second marriage when I am here)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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